The Ouachita telegraph. [volume] (Monroe, La.) 1865-1889, 1887-10-15
GOODNESS 5 MEANNESS|
A STORY FOR GIRLS.
BY MARY CRANME Err.
CHAPTER v.
THE CRIME.

ly seen at the residence of Mai. Brad
ieigh-Belle, her mother and Mary. 1t
was evident that the invalid would not
long be a source of trouble to any one,
as ne was rapidly declining. Belle
to make herself very useful
to her uncle in order to gain his good
will. The day she returned she
hastened TO his bedside, and, suppress
ing her feelings of disgust, imprinted
u kiss upon his paliid lips.
ssWhat made you come, child ?" he |
asked.
"To te sure, to see you, dear Uncte."
"Iou have left your school, have
you?"
.sY4s, for awhile"
s'That is no way to do, Belle. You
ought not to neglect your business"
"Why, dear Uncle, don't you sup
pose wanted to see you::''
"You could have waited till Friday.
What Is to-day-Tuesday: But you
can return tomorrow"
"No, Uncle, not Tomorrow"
"When, then p"
"Not till you-get better"
"You did not mean that, Belle. You
wero about to say till died."
II heard you were not so well as you
have been, Uncle, and I felt anxious
about you. 1t was natural I should
desire to see you, wasn't it?''
"You don't like me, Belle; I know
you don't. What is the use 10 pretend
that you do?"
go, Uncle, don't be cross to me-"
said Belle, beginning to cry. ''That
hurts me worse than anything"
"Uncle Joe," said Mary reprovingly,
ssyou are unjust to dear Cousin Belle.
She has dropped everything TO come
to see you,' and you must not scold
her.''
IL have come to help nurse you, too,"
sobbed Belle.
"But, 1 don't need you," said Uncle
Joe.
"Hush - exclaimed Mary, putting
her hand upon his mouth. "You don't
know what you need. You must re-
member that I cannot sit up the whole
of every night"
"There is no use of that"
"But, you don't know, Uncle Joe,"
said Mary; tsyou are not the doctor.
Now, there, don't scold."
The old man said no more, and Belle
was installed as one of the nurses.
One night Belle was sitting up alone.
The hour-hand of the clock pointed to
twelve. Belle could hear nothing but
the moaning of the wind outside and
the heavy breathing OF the invalid
within. AS usual she began thinking
of her critical condition when her un-
Gle should depart this life. She could
sec nothing in the future but privation
hardship and toll. How mean it was
of her uncle to leave her in this desti
tnte condition. But something must
be done. The time had come for &C
tion. Should she make an appeal tc
his sympathies: No; he would prob
ably insult her. What then: s'I hav,
been thinking of the other alternative,
she said to herself, "and now is my
chance. In setf-defense, must do it
yes, I mast destroy Mut aciU! At last
what harm is there in it: / am hi
legal heir. Who can blame me? l
must he done. I know where it is
how fortunate! The keys arc undc
Uncie's pillow. Everything Is favora
ble." Here conscience thunde1ed, 81
is wrong !" Belle looked around il
alarm, as though she had heard voice
She listened intently. 1t was only he
nncle's respirations. Suddenly sh
arose and stealthiIy approached tn
bedside She imagined she heard
fOotstep III the hall and held her breati
1t was only the wind. Sitting dow
on chair she deftly thrust her han
under the pillow, and in a moment 81
was in possession OF tho keys. st
could hear the violent throbbings
her own heart. Was it not the hamm
of conscience? She tried two or thr,
of the keys, and the next one SCENE
to fit the lock. She turned it. Thel
was a sharp click and the desk w
open. She took the paper from II
pigeon-hole where she had seen
placed on that unhappy day. 81
opened the will with her tremblil
hands and rapidly read it. "Wha,
fool have been making of myself
she presently said to herself. ~ q
Uncle's heir, after all. Dear, goc
kind Uncle! ne has only been tryi
to learn me business habits. mi g
have known that he would not lea
me penniless. He intended to let 1
think hard of him till he was buris
l will put this back and be kind
him, indeed. But what is this OIL
paper? l will see.'
She began to read, and hud not pl
ceeded far before her face burned w
Indignation. "I wonder if she knu
it? ?' thought Belle. "No, she wot
have told me. Let mo see the ds
How mean Uncle is, as l thought
first. But / will outgeneral him y
IS eaSy tn do ~